Curfew Declared After Tamil Suicide Attack in Southern Sri Lanka Port

Suspected Tamil rebels infiltrated the harbor in Sri Lanka's southern port city of Galle Wednesday, and blew up three of their boats in an apparent suicide attack.

Security officials say the rebels entered the harbor in five boats posing as fishermen. At least three people were killed during the attack, including a navy sailor, and several others were wounded.

Galle is a commercial port and home to a government naval base.

Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in Galle after the attack to help police in the hunt for rebels and to prevent reprisals against minority Tamils.

Police and witnesses say mobs tried to attack some Tamil shops after the harbor assault.

The attack in southern Sri Lanka, far from rebel strongholds in the country's north and east, could mark a shift in the Tamil guerrillas' strategy.

Galle has only recently recovered from the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami two years ago. The city's historic harbor brings in important tourist dollars for the impoverished country and is an important commercial port.